Talking Points....
8/11/2026
This week's discussion will focus on God's furthering message to Pastor Doug for our church, "Let's Grow Up."
I. Part 2.
A. We all have room to grow.
1. We can get to a point where we think we have been at church long enough, where we think we have heard it all.
2. Have you ever found yourself in this place? What changes did you make to get yourself in the right place to mature in Him?
B. Don't be a Christian with Peter Pan Syndrome.
1. Don't be an adult who avoids grownup responsibilities, commitments, who is chronically unreliable, and one who constantly shifts blame to others for their failures and lack of impulse control.
2. When we are around another believer with challenges like this, what can we do in love to help them?
C. We need to be planted where we can build His Kingdom, and not our needs and wants.
1. Far too many churches today make Peter Pan Christians.
2. Many pastors today, in an effort to grow their churches, opt for a softer style Gospel that downplays commitment and accountability, by promoting a seeker friendly version of Christianity where people get to choose their church by how big the coffee shop is, how many programs it offers, or if it fits their weekly calendar.
3. Have you ever been to a church like this? How did it make you feel?
D. Too many Christians always take in and never give out.
1. Eventually, this attitude will pollute your life.
2. Your life will start to stink.
3. We need to only take in for a season, so that we are able to give out.
4. How has giving of yourself during a challenging time, ended up blessing and helping you?
E. We all have bad days or seasons.
1. Ephesians 3:17-19 - Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
2. Christ's love helps us get past bad times as we grow in Him and His love.
3. When you are having a difficult season, what things do you do to change that?
F. You can not grow bigger than your revelation of how much He loves you.
1. How much do you think God loves you?
G. John's growing revelation of God's love, fueled his growth as a believer.
1. We all benefit from his revelation because he shared with others.
2. What revelation has God given you that could help others?
H. John had a revelation of how much God loved him.
1. John 21:7 - Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.
2. John's revelation also shows how much God loves us.
3. Do you feel like the one that God loves? If not, why not?
I. John never stopped having encounters and growing with Jesus.
1. 1 John 4:19 - We love each other because he loved us first.
2. How has His love for you encourage you to keep growing and having encounters with Him?
J. There is a better version of you.
1. Learn to give and forgive.
2. Let's go and let's grow.
3. Don't be so offended.
4. Grow up.
5. Stop carrying a grudge.
6. Stop being selfish.
7. What is keeping you from growing in Him?
K. Reflection time.
1. What has stood out to you the most with this message "I am What God Says I am"
This week's discussion will focus on God's furthering message to Pastor Doug for our church, "Let's Grow Up."
I. Part 2.
A. We all have room to grow.
1. We can get to a point where we think we have been at church long enough, where we think we have heard it all.
2. Have you ever found yourself in this place? What changes did you make to get yourself in the right place to mature in Him?
B. Don't be a Christian with Peter Pan Syndrome.
1. Don't be an adult who avoids grownup responsibilities, commitments, who is chronically unreliable, and one who constantly shifts blame to others for their failures and lack of impulse control.
2. When we are around another believer with challenges like this, what can we do in love to help them?
C. We need to be planted where we can build His Kingdom, and not our needs and wants.
1. Far too many churches today make Peter Pan Christians.
2. Many pastors today, in an effort to grow their churches, opt for a softer style Gospel that downplays commitment and accountability, by promoting a seeker friendly version of Christianity where people get to choose their church by how big the coffee shop is, how many programs it offers, or if it fits their weekly calendar.
3. Have you ever been to a church like this? How did it make you feel?
D. Too many Christians always take in and never give out.
1. Eventually, this attitude will pollute your life.
2. Your life will start to stink.
3. We need to only take in for a season, so that we are able to give out.
4. How has giving of yourself during a challenging time, ended up blessing and helping you?
E. We all have bad days or seasons.
1. Ephesians 3:17-19 - Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
2. Christ's love helps us get past bad times as we grow in Him and His love.
3. When you are having a difficult season, what things do you do to change that?
F. You can not grow bigger than your revelation of how much He loves you.
1. How much do you think God loves you?
G. John's growing revelation of God's love, fueled his growth as a believer.
1. We all benefit from his revelation because he shared with others.
2. What revelation has God given you that could help others?
H. John had a revelation of how much God loved him.
1. John 21:7 - Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.
2. John's revelation also shows how much God loves us.
3. Do you feel like the one that God loves? If not, why not?
I. John never stopped having encounters and growing with Jesus.
1. 1 John 4:19 - We love each other because he loved us first.
2. How has His love for you encourage you to keep growing and having encounters with Him?
J. There is a better version of you.
1. Learn to give and forgive.
2. Let's go and let's grow.
3. Don't be so offended.
4. Grow up.
5. Stop carrying a grudge.
6. Stop being selfish.
7. What is keeping you from growing in Him?
K. Reflection time.
1. What has stood out to you the most with this message "I am What God Says I am"